NEWS: Report: Next Subaru WRX Could Get Wilder Styling

We're big fans of the new 2015 Subaru WRX, but we still can't help wishing it looked more like its design inspiration. The Subaru WRX concept shown at the 2013 New York auto show had wildly flared fenders, a rakish coupe-like roofline, aggressive front end, and low-slung look. The production car, while still pretty cool, was more like a dressed-up Subaru Impreza than the outlandish concept.

Fortunately for enthusiasts, that could soon change. Our colleagues at Motor Trend suggest that the 2015 Subaru WRX will soon receive a dramatic visual refresh. Subaru chief designer Mamoru Ishii told MT that the WRX concept's design cues will reach the Subaru Impreza in 2016, and the WRX shortly thereafter.

"Yes, we have taken the next-generation Impreza's design in a new direction that we are sure will excite the marketplace," Ishii told MT. "We are planning to give the lower section below the hip line a wider, more substantial stance and narrow up the roof section."

In other words, the next WRX will be far more similar to the concept than today's 2015 Subaru WRX. We can reportedly expect a "bolder" body and a narrower greenhouse, cues that harken back to last year's WRX concept.

Beneath the new bodywork, we don't anticipate any changes from the 2015 Subaru WRX. The car will likely continue with a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, all-wheel drive, and either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

Despite the promise of new styling, don't wait around for a new body style. Subaru officials continue to deny any plans for a hatchback version of the 2015 Subaru WRX, and say the car will continue to be offered only as a sedan.

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